The No. 9 NC State women’s basketball team shook off some early rust to beat Boston College 72-54 at Conte Forum in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, in its ACC opener and extend its winning streak to 12 games.
Following a 10-day hiatus over Christmas break since a 74-38 stomping of Chattanooga, the Wolfpack (12-0, 1-0 ACC) was sloppy in the first half. NC State committed 10 turnovers in the half and allowed the Eagles (7-6, 0-1 ACC) to shoot over 36% from the 3-point line en route to being outscored 17-11 in the second quarter.
A strong first quarter in which NC State shot 10 for 15 from the field and 3 for 5 from the 3-point line while holding Boston College to just five makes on 19 shots gave way to a second quarter that gave head coach Wes Moore fits.
Boston College canned 3 of 6 3-pointers in the second quarter and forced NC State into an uncharacteristic eight turnovers and 25% shooting from the floor. The Wolfpack struggled immensely inside the 3-point arc during the second quarter, shooting just 1 for 8 from the field and 2 for 4 from the free-throw line.
Holding its own against NC State, the Eagles closed out the second quarter on a 12-2 run. Despite its electric 26-point first quarter, the most points it’s scored in the opening quarter of a game all season, the Wolfpack took just an eight-point lead into halftime.
The Wolfpack’s superior talent finally shone through in the second half, and senior guard Aislinn Konig led the charge of shaking off the Christmas break rust. Konig knocked down back-to-back 3-pointers in the third quarter and made a nice move in the paint to grab a layup as NC State outscored Boston College 20-17 in the frame, taking a 56-45 lead into the fourth quarter and never looking back.
As usual, the name of the game for NC State on offense was balance. Led by junior guard Kai Crutchfield’s 14 points on 3-for-6 shooting from deep, six different players scored in double figures. Sophomore center Elissa Cunane recorded her fifth double-double in her last six games, scoring 12 points and hauling in 10 rebounds.
With a 3-for-8 performance from beyond the arc, Konig knocked down multiple 3-pointers for the sixth time in the Pack’s last seven games. Following a 6-for-30 start to the season from 3-point range, Konig is shooting 35% from deep since Thanksgiving.
Konig and freshman forward Jada Boyd each scored 11 points, and freshman guard Jakia Brown-Turner and junior forward Kayla Jones rounded out the double-digit scorers with 10 points apiece.
The Wolfpack will return to action on Thursday, Jan. 2, at 7 p.m. when it takes on 10-1 Virginia Tech at home in Reynolds Coliseum in what could be a ranked matchup.
